Fastening method, assembly and structure of engine oil fill extension tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9416698-B2
Application number	US-201414276833-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2014
Priority date	May 13, 2014
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

Fastening method, assembly and structure of engine oil fill extension tube can include an oil fill extension tube and a self-locking washer. The oil fill extension tube can include a plurality of locking edges disposed towards a first distal end of the oil fill extension tube, where the plurality of locking edges can define boundaries of a plurality of slots. The self-locking washer can include a plurality of teeth disposed on its top surface. The self-locking washer can be oriented over an opening in the oil pan, after which the oil fill extension tube can be threaded into the opening. The plurality of slots and plurality of teeth can be ratcheted together to fasten the oil fill extension tube into the oil pan when the oil fill extension tube is rotated clockwise. The washer can further include a locking extension to securely engage a portion of the oil pan.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of fastening an oil fill extension tube into an oil pan, comprising:
orienting a self-locking washer over a threaded opening in the oil pan, the self-locking washer comprising a plurality of teeth disposed on a top surface of the self-locking washer and a locking extension disposed orthogonally to the top surface of the self-locking washer;
securely engaging, by the locking extension of the self-locking washer, a portion of the oil pan after the self-locking washer is oriented over the threaded opening;
threading a first distal end of the oil fill extension tube into the threaded opening, the oil fill extension tube comprising a plurality of locking edges, the plurality of locking edges disposed towards the first distal end of the oil fill extension tube and defining boundaries of a plurality of slots; and
ratcheting together the plurality of slots and the plurality of teeth to fasten the oil fill extension tube into the oil pan.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein ratcheting together the plurality of slots and the plurality of teeth comprises rotating the oil fill extension tube clockwise with respect to a longitudinal axis of the oil fill extension tube until the oil fill extension tube is fully threaded into the threaded opening, such that the plurality of teeth are received in a corresponding slot of the plurality of slots.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each one of the plurality of teeth comprises an outer surface that is angled off the top surface of the self-locking washer at a predetermined pitch, such that when the oil fill extension tube is rotated clockwise the plurality of locking edges slide over the angled outer surface of each one of the plurality of teeth.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein rotating the oil fill extension tube counterclockwise with respect to the longitudinal axis is limited by each one of the plurality of locking edges bearing against a respective one of the plurality of teeth to prevent further rotation of the oil fill extension tube.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of locking edges and the plurality of slots are disposed on a radially extending outer projection of the oil fill extension tube.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are angled radially around the top surface of the self-locking washer in a clockwise direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the oil fill extension tube.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are evenly spaced on the top surface of the self-locking washer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oil fill extension tube further comprises a longitudinally extending body comprising the first distal end and a second distal end, wherein the first distal end is externally threaded and the second distal end is internally threaded to removably receive an oil level stick.

9. An assembly for fastening an oil fill extension tube into an oil pan, the assembly comprising:
a self-locking washer comprising a plurality of teeth disposed on a top surface of the self-locking washer and a locking extension disposed orthogonally to the top surface of the self-locking washer, wherein the self-locking washer is oriented over a threaded opening in the oil pan; and
an oil fill extension tube comprising a plurality of locking edges, the plurality of locking edges disposed towards a first distal end of the oil fill extension tube and defining boundaries of a plurality of slots;
wherein the plurality of slots and the plurality of teeth are configured with respect to one another to be ratcheted together when the first distal end of the oil fill extension tube is threaded into the threaded opening of the oil pan; and
wherein the locking extension is configured to securely engage a portion of the oil pan after the self-locking washer is oriented over the threaded opening.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of teeth are configured to be received in a corresponding slot of the plurality of slots when the oil fill extension tube is rotated in a clockwise direction, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the oil fill extension tube.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein each one of the plurality of teeth comprises an outer surface that is angled off the top surface of the self-locking washer at a certain pitch, such that when the oil fill extension tube is rotated in the clockwise direction, the plurality of locking edges slide over the angled outer surface of each one of the plurality of teeth.

12. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein rotation of the oil fill extension tube in a counterclockwise direction, with respect to the longitudinal axis, is limited by each one of the plurality of locking edges being configured to bear against a respective one of the plurality of teeth to prevent further rotation of the oil fill extension tube.

13. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of teeth is angled radially around the top surface of the self-locking washer in a clockwise direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the oil fill extension tube.

14. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the oil fill extension tube further comprises a longitudinally extending body comprising the first distal end and a second distal end, wherein the first distal end is externally threaded and the second distal end is internally threaded to removably receive an oil level stick.

15. A self-locking washer for fastening an oil fill extension tube into an oil pan, the self-locking washer comprising:
a top surface;
a plurality of teeth disposed on the top surface; and
a locking extension disposed orthogonally to the top surface;
wherein the self-locking washer is oriented over a threaded opening in the oil pan;
wherein the locking extension is configured to securely engage a portion of the oil pan after the self-locking washer is oriented over the threaded opening;
wherein the oil fill extension tube comprises a longitudinally extending body comprising a first distal end and a second distal end, the first distal end being externally threaded, and a plurality of locking edges disposed towards the first distal end of the oil fill extension tube and defining boundaries of a plurality of slots.

16. The self-locking washer of claim 15 , wherein the self-locking washer is configured to rotationally receive the oil fill extension tube, such that rotation of the oil fill extension tube in a clockwise direction, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the oil fill extension tube, ratchets together the plurality of slots and the plurality of teeth disposed on the top surface of the self-locking washer.

17. The self-locking washer of claim 16 , wherein the self-locking washer is configured to limit rotation of the oil fill extension tube, such that rotation of the oil fill extension tube in a counterclockwise direction, with respect to the longitudinal axis, is limited by each one of the plurality of locking edges being configured to bear against a respective one of the plurality of teeth to prevent further rotation of the oil fill extension tube.

18. The self-locking washer of claim 15 , wherein the oil fill extension tube comprises a plurality of ribs disposed towards the second distal end of the oil fill extension tube in order to aid in torgueing the oil fill extension tube within the self-locking washer.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Meeks Christopher D
• Lenfert Nathaniel A

Classifications

• Y10T29/53

  Means to assemble or disassemble · CPC title

• F01M11/04

  Filling or draining lubricant of or from machines or engines · CPC title

• B67C2011/027

  for filling oil into engines · CPC title

• F01M11/0458 Primary

  Lubricant filling and draining · CPC title

• B65D25/48

  Separable nozzles or spouts · CPC title